The Saga of the Ui Bruin

[Yushal]

The People of Danu did my forebears drive underground. My fathers trace their lineage through the ages to Mil, through Ith, through Amairgin, who brought us to the land of the Tuatha De Danaan. From long had it been foretold by the druids that we Gaels would be restless until we took this land by conquest, and so it was.

By treachery was Ith cruelly murdered by black-hearted Tuatha De, and in vengeance came we back under Donn the Truthful, with Amairgin. Cursed was Donn by Eriu for his blunt speech, and blessed was Amairgin for his flattery, but neither curse nor blessing would save the fairy folk. Their weaves of enchantments killed five heroes of the Gael: Donn, as cursed he was; Ir son of Miled whose body was cast upon Sceilg Michill; Colpa of the Sword, who gave his name to Inver Colpa, drowned; also Arranan and another. Some few champions did land to set upon the Tuatha De, including Amairgin, Heremon and Heber. Thusly were the descendants of Nemed defeated by the Milesian and the Gael, and sent Below, into the Sidhe. As the bard recites:

They conquered noble Ireland
Against the Tuatha De of great magic,
In vengeance for Ith of the steeds
Thirty, ten, and one chieftain.​

And:

Expeditions of the sons of Mil over sea
From Spain of clear ships,
They took, it is no deed of falsehood,
The battleplain of Ireland in one day.​

Henceforth, said Eriu, our warriors be cursed upon the land while our bards be blessed. I am born to set this curse aright. By my strong arm and the ancient right of conquest will I make Eriu my table. Fodhla my hearth, Banba my field.

I am Congalach Ui Briuin of the Dal gCais, mac Muidertach mac Toirrdelbach mac Tadg mac Brian Boruma mac Cennetig King of North Munster. Not the Ui Neill, nor the sons of Conn shall stand before me. Neither will Ui Cheinnselaig, nor Ui Fiachrach sway this plan. The schemes of the treacherous Eoghanacht and their Viking allies will likewise come to naught, for they will be pushed into the sea as my Fathers dealt with the Corca Loigde.

This I vow this Samhain day, the day of my manhood, All Saints day. Hear me God.

>>>>Further reading

http://www.shee-eire.com
http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/index.htm

 

[Yushal]

from Conversations of Congalach with Young Eochaid as set out in the Tomes of the Ard Ri author(s) unknown

Grandfather would talk endlessly about unifying the land. His scheme for subjugating Midhe was planned well before my birth. Charismatic old Toirrdelbach would sit on his throne, if you could name it so, and tell father that we must crush Midhe first, because without the Midlands, the Gael would strive amongst themselves forever. Whoever was crowned at Tara, roar of the stone or no, would not hold Erin without Midhe. Even Conn Cead Chath, chosen by the Sidhe was forced to halve the land when he lost Midhe to Eoghan-Mor, and soon after died under his vassals sword in the north. No, he spoke, Midhe comes first. Father listened well.

Father was weak, somehow. He lacked not courage, as shown in his Scottish campaign, but still. Grandfather knew it. His old chancellor confided this to me when eventually I took over, though he was half-deaf and mostly senile by that time. So weak that the barons wanted no part of him as Duke of Munster after Toirrdelbach died. They proposed to elect Uncle Donnchad. See, the old Brehon Law says the nobles have the right to choose amongst their kings, even to four generations. Donnchad himself skips over Uncle Tadg, weaker yet than father. So clever old Toirrdelbach, as much as he hated to share power with anyone, made Muirdertach Count of Urmumu. This gave him an army to command, and gave him the support he would need to inherit.

As well, Toirrdelbach needed to show himself a fair ruler when he introduced his "ancient" claims on Midhe, and giving up Urmumu, even to his own son, lent support to that idea. Donnchad groused, of course. Years of living in his brother's shadow and suddenly his birthright snatched away. He caused much trouble amongst the court until grandfather appointed him Marshal of the armies. It was he who eventually marched into Midhe under father's orders and secured the midlands.

Grandfather also made our first alliances with the Welsh kings, which we've continued until today.They've been handy against the Dunkelds of Scotland, and we've traded many wives over the years. I council you to continue the practise after I'm gone.

I must have been about five when father sent me to Laigin as a hostage. It was a wonder I wasn't killed when he invaded Midhe, but that lusty old fool Murchaid Ui Mordha was busy chasing wenches and I had the protection of his spymaster, An Dall Ua Faelin. That is why I spared his family when I took Leinster. Honestly, I love Laigin more than Munster. Boyhood memories.

As you know, grandfather fell ill in 1080 with the flux, which afflicted Desmumu and Urmumu, and Midhe I might add, for all those long years before you were born. He hung on for another two years, but he wasn't strong like his old self. This is the period when YOUR gradfather, MY father, Muirdertach began to get crazy with his power. I've not been told exactly how it started, but he found some old druids, or what he thought were druids, and took up the old religion. I know you've heard the stories of pagan rites in the forests around Urmumu, and about the so-called Wild Hunts he and his knights took off on. Everyone heard and they blamed the flux on him and his pagan idolatry.

Toirrdelbach died about then and Muirdertach took over all of Munster. The ribbing I took in the Leinster court about the Mad King of Munster, well, it was harsh. But the pope intervened and father announced he would join the crusade on Antiocheia. And that put an end to it, at least in court circles, where it counted. That's the thing about him - he was weak, he was crazy, even, but he was crafty! He had no use for the crusade and never took his vow seriously. Why would he? In his heart he was pagan, after all. Just a ruse; he planned no such voyage. Only the Bishop of Osraige dared to call his bluff. That is why father laid claim on his lands.

Finally, in 1084, Conchobar of Midhe died of old age, and everyone was happy. This let father start his war on the midlands since no one wanted to see good old Conchobar the Generous have to crawl out of bed to fight a battle somewhere. His successors no one cared too much about. Some joined our court afterwards, some dispersed. I'm sure some today plot our downfall. Anyhow, Midhe fell like ripe wheat to the scythe.

Around the fall of Midhe I came of age and made my vow before God, that I would see this island united under my banner. We'll get to that soon. I was a very nervous young man, from having lived in Laigin amidst an enemy court. Our crafty forebear made a match for me with your mother, who you know is my own first cousin. Another sop to our uncle Donnchad, who did not, of course, gain the fief he fought for. Your mother Maire was a blessing, though. She surpassed me in every way and soothed my worries away from me. Muirdertach promised us Urmumu if our union proved fruitful.

When I said that everyone was happy, I did not mean they were happy that we took the midlands! Malcolm Dunkeld of Scotland, particularly, was displeased, and he made war on us in 1087, citing claims on poor, poxy Urmumu. Malcom sent some few men through Leinster, who let the invader march unscathed, and they advanced into Midhe. Uncle Donnchad met and defeated them without trouble.

Two things happened next which might have set Munster back from it's destiny. First, Donnchad once more began to crow of his prowess, for which Muirdertach removed him as marshal and appointed, of all people, Uncle Tadg's son Tuathal. But Tuathal proved himself on the fields of Midhe and our armies were victorious holding off depredations of the Scots.

Second, our spies saw the remains of the Scottish forces scurry home to Scotland, and this gave my father all the rope he needed to hang us. Muirdertach announced "I'll follow those cowards and burn them out of their lands!" With 1100 brave men of Munster, he set after them to Scotland. Burn them he did! Father burnt Lothian, the seat of the Scottish king, to cinders before treachery announced itself.

Deheubarth joined the wars against us as ally to Sligo, but neither Mathonwy nor Aed knew of my father's crafty ways. When they heard that Lothian had fallen, they were quick to negotiate a bloodless peace. When Tir Eogham also declared war on him, father quickly returned from Scotland, abandoning his conquest there and led an army against our northern countrymen. He won the battle, but was gravely wounded, as our great Briuin Boruma was at Clontarf. Muirdertach, like Briuin, fell dead from his wounds, and I inherited the Duchy.

There had been two full years of warfare, here and in Scotland. Our new allies in Gwynedd sent regiments to help us stave off the Scot, but it was too late. Munster was defeated. We merely huddled in Urmumu while Malcolm's regiments pillaged Munster and burned our people's huts, awaiting the harsh terms certain to come once his men had sated themselves with booty. But lo, a message from the pope! He ordered us to enact peace! We agreed, of course. Defeat on the battlefield is one thing, in a war not of my making, but starting a reign excommunicated is quite another. Unfortunately, the message never got to malcolm, or he may have ignored it. The Scots continued their rampage til the end of 1089, when we were forced to relinquish Urmumu to them. We were all glad of heart to leave the dysentery behind.

 

[Yushal]

from Conversations of Congalach with Young Eochaid as set out in the Tomes of the Ard Ri author(s) unknown

So, Eochaid, the country was long in recovery from the war over Midhe and Urmumu. Was it the fault of Muirdertach, or the grasping hand of Malcolm Dunkeld, or the perfidy of our neighbors? You may decide for yourself. Malcolm won in the end, against us and against our allies in Gwynedd. Duke Bleddyn Cynfyn the Bold warred against the scot for four or five years, seizing Urmumu and himself torching Lothian, but Malcolm was too strong and looted all of Cynfyn's provinces. I never learned what terms of peace the Dunkelds wrenched out of him.

As for us, we were forced to sell off some ancient commerce rights we held in order to support the court. The peasants had nothing, roaming the paths and the wood searching for pinecones and acorns. All our holdings had been salted and torched, and the flux lay over everyone like a pall. But we survived.

Though Marshal Tuathal disagreed, our armies were non-existent. War was comletely out of the question and the furthest from anyone's mind. Instead, I concentrated on the land. We built what we knew how and sent for learned men to find out what we didn't know. Our farming techniques did happen to be ahead of our neighbors, but the peasants had no equipment, and our siege planning was far and away the best, thanks to father's pioneering experiments in Lothian, but the army lacked tactics.

1096 was an eventful year. Tir Eogham pledged to Leinster.Mother one day announced she'd had enough of watery porridge and watery stool and packed off to England with my brothers Fothud and Guaire. Though I had your sisters Nuala and Una, you hadn't been concieved yet and as Guaire was heir apparent, and still underage, we all prayed he might choose an Irish wife. This is one matter on which there will be no disagreement, Eochaid. No Ard Ri will pass his inheritance to any other but a Gael. You will swear to this.

Then, happy days began again! In 1098 you were born! Of course I raised you myself. I wouldn't trust anyone else with such an important task. Your birth turned the tide, my son. Whether it is God smiling upon you, or the fairy folk protecting you, I care not. Just after your birth Ulaid joined Leinster. Yes, this seemed not in our favor, but events that followed proved that a lie.

In September 1099, Loigsech Ui Mordha removed Isle of Man from the Duchy of Leinster. He was a mad man if he thought he could get away with that. Let that be a lesson to you! If ever you find yourself reduced to some tiny back corner of a fief, get out of it now and then. Else you'll go crazy with mad fancies like old man Loigsech did. Of course, Leinster moved against him. Once they sent their army overseas, I marched against Osraige.

I ordered harsh tax measures enacted to support the armies. Osraige fell quickly and we moved on Laigin and Dublin, which I claimed by right of conquest when it fell.

The old Duke having died of shame, we supposed, Loigsech of Man was now nominal Duke of Leinster. He refused to recognize my conquest of Dublin and holed up on his barren isle, taunting us with nasty messages and baskets of rotten fish. The battles for Dublin having set the Ulstermen into disarray, we prepared to embark for the isles of the madman when my spymaster brought forth an old courtier named Cellach O Cearbhaill. In her hand she held parchment proclaiming this person's claim to Laigin. While he never quite understood his role in the matter, he was quickly installed as Count of Laigin. Learning of this trick, mad Loigsech was undone. Now Duke of Leinster, Duke of Meath, Tir Eogham and Ulaid pledged fealty.

Success beyond my wildest dreams! You, Eochaid, but two years old, caught up in the chaos, picking fights with whatever crossed your path. I swear this is what made you so aggressive in your life. Cellach the Senile Laigin was 70 in his old age and had never married, so we had thought him safe as count, but what did he do on being raised? He married and got her pregnant. He refused to leave his newfound fortune and we forced him out.

With three of the four kingdoms in our grasp we felt it best to push on until we were recognized as Ard Ri, and so we took Tir Connail and marched to Tara to be crowned.